so how crowded is your gym with newbies?

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Replies

  • AlsDonkBoxSquat
    AlsDonkBoxSquat Posts: 6,128 Member
    This thread is annoying me now. What I'm see in here is way more: meh, my gyms no too crowded yet, but it probably will be this weekend an will last a month or two (non-judgemental)

    Or, "yeah, they're in there, hopefully it'll stick (statistically speaking a vet low percentage of people who make New Years resolutions actually stick to them. The likelihood of it becoming a new habit is more likely at any random day of the year).

    And a lot of "why are you guys being so mean? You were new once too!" (Defensive when very few comments on this post are actually negative).

    I encourage you all to defy statistics, as a group fit instructor and a lover of being active there is nothin is like I'd like to see more then 100% success rates.


    Note: I hate typing on my phone and blame it on any and all typos. It's a *kitten*.
  • Mcgrawhaha
    Mcgrawhaha Posts: 1,596 Member
    This thread is annoying me now. What I'm see in here is way more: meh, my gyms no too crowded yet, but it probably will be this weekend an will last a month or two (non-judgemental)

    Or, "yeah, they're in there, hopefully it'll stick (statistically speaking a vet low percentage of people who make New Years resolutions actually stick to them. The likelihood of it becoming a new habit is more likely at any random day of the year).

    And a lot of "why are you guys being so mean? You were new once too!" (Defensive when very few comments on this post are actually negative).

    I encourage you all to defy statistics, as a group fit instructor and a lover of being active there is nothin is like I'd like to see more then 100% success rates.


    Note: I hate typing on my phone and blame it on any and all typos. It's a *kitten*.

    i refuse to type on my phone because i make so many typos... lol

    my only point is that its threads like this that turn people away from making changes and attempting to use a gym. this site should be the last place that someone who is genuinly trying to make changes, and find out how, should come to and be degraded and made fun of. its scary for new people to walk into a gym, then they see threads like this, and it validates thier fears, thats all... its just not cool to do...
  • stines72
    stines72 Posts: 853 Member
    extremely crowded. there was no parking today.
  • Mcgrawhaha
    Mcgrawhaha Posts: 1,596 Member
    extremely crowded. there was no parking today.

    you know the only day i had a problem with parking, believe it or not, was on new years eve... i figured everyone would be getting prettied up for the night... but nope, they were at the gym... it was ok tho, i parked so far away in the next parkinglot that i felt like i got a good chunk of my workout over with just by walking from my truck to the gym... :)
  • AlsDonkBoxSquat
    AlsDonkBoxSquat Posts: 6,128 Member
    This thread is annoying me now. What I'm see in here is way more: meh, my gyms no too crowded yet, but it probably will be this weekend an will last a month or two (non-judgemental)

    Or, "yeah, they're in there, hopefully it'll stick (statistically speaking a vet low percentage of people who make New Years resolutions actually stick to them. The likelihood of it becoming a new habit is more likely at any random day of the year).

    And a lot of "why are you guys being so mean? You were new once too!" (Defensive when very few comments on this post are actually negative).

    I encourage you all to defy statistics, as a group fit instructor and a lover of being active there is nothin is like I'd like to see more then 100% success rates.


    Note: I hate typing on my phone and blame it on any and all typos. It's a *kitten*.

    i refuse to type on my phone because i make so many typos... lol

    my only point is that its threads like this that turn people away from making changes and attempting to use a gym. this site should be the last place that someone who is genuinly trying to make changes, and find out how, should come to and be degraded and made fun of. its scary for new people to walk into a gym, then they see threads like this, and it validates thier fears, thats all... its just not cool to do...

    To me this post is about perspective. I'm actually seeing only a handful of people over 7 pages complaining about new members at the gym. Maybe complaining about access to equipment, but not about bodies. Yes we were all new once (mine was 6 years ago), but you have to keep it in perspective. The 10% of people who actually are judgemental are twatwaffles and no one should worry about what they think anyway. Seriously, why let that 10% of the population that you may only assume (most wont say publicly anyway) who gives a **** be the excuse as to whether or not you succeed. Whether or not you're in the gym they're judging you. And guess what, once you make and change and stick with it there's a whole other 10% that's judging you for something else. The only one who can change anything in this situation is the person with the perception of being judged. They can make a decision to do what they want, what they need to so, and not give a **** what anyone thinks.
  • Mcgrawhaha
    Mcgrawhaha Posts: 1,596 Member
    This thread is annoying me now. What I'm see in here is way more: meh, my gyms no too crowded yet, but it probably will be this weekend an will last a month or two (non-judgemental)

    Or, "yeah, they're in there, hopefully it'll stick (statistically speaking a vet low percentage of people who make New Years resolutions actually stick to them. The likelihood of it becoming a new habit is more likely at any random day of the year).

    And a lot of "why are you guys being so mean? You were new once too!" (Defensive when very few comments on this post are actually negative).

    I encourage you all to defy statistics, as a group fit instructor and a lover of being active there is nothin is like I'd like to see more then 100% success rates.


    Note: I hate typing on my phone and blame it on any and all typos. It's a *kitten*.

    i refuse to type on my phone because i make so many typos... lol

    my only point is that its threads like this that turn people away from making changes and attempting to use a gym. this site should be the last place that someone who is genuinly trying to make changes, and find out how, should come to and be degraded and made fun of. its scary for new people to walk into a gym, then they see threads like this, and it validates thier fears, thats all... its just not cool to do...

    To me this post is about perspective. I'm actually seeing only a handful of people over 7 pages complaining about new members at the gym. Maybe complaining about access to equipment, but not about bodies. Yes we were all new once (mine was 6 years ago), but you have to keep it in perspective. The 10% of people who actually are judgemental are twatwaffles and no one should worry about what they think anyway. Seriously, why let that 10% of the population that you may only assume (most wont say publicly anyway) who gives a **** be the excuse as to whether or not you succeed. Whether or not you're in the gym they're judging you. And guess what, once you make and change and stick with it there's a whole other 10% that's judging you for something else. The only one who can change anything in this situation is the person with the perception of being judged. They can make a decision to do what they want, what they need to so, and not give a **** what anyone thinks.

    totally agree, your spot on!!! but when young girls are intimidated by that 10% posting threads for them to read on a site that should provide motivation and not discouragement, it just makes it that much harder for them to even get in and start to make that change. for the rest of us, people who have been at the gym, people who have more to worry about than who MIGHT be judging them, or people who just dgaf, yeah, that 10% means nothing, but there are some who are affected by it, thats all.

    wait... twatwaffle??? wth is that? im going to start calling my husband that...
  • PhillyTD
    PhillyTD Posts: 375 Member
    LpGeK.gif
  • mamagooskie
    mamagooskie Posts: 2,964 Member
    Right now....quite a bit busier.
  • Webbygail
    Webbygail Posts: 116
    WOW. There are so many gym "elitists" on here, it's crazy. I'd say be supportive and encourage people who are working out, don't bring them down. Something is really wrong with some people on here. >_<
  • bumblebums
    bumblebums Posts: 2,181 Member
    It wasn't too bad. I am glad to see people making an effort and I hope they stick to it. I did hide out in the free weights area, though--newbies usually don't venture there.
  • j4nash
    j4nash Posts: 1,719 Member
    Person gets fat. Extremely Fat.
    Person joins gym and is intimidated by the people making fun of them because it's January 1st.
    Person gives out dieting advice to everyone even though they're fat.
    Person sees the light on what it takes to not be fat, after failing 5 times and trying every diet in the book.
    Person finally loses the weight, a lot of weight.
    Person then judges others for trying to do the same thing and mocks them for their dieting and exercise habits because they think they're stupid.
  • Lift_This_
    Lift_This_ Posts: 2,756 Member
    i live in a small town, and our local gym really hasn't been that packed. i guess that is a plus...able to lift and get my cardio in without having to wait a million years for the racks and machines.
  • I usually go to gym on the first hour coz i hate a mid morning to evening crowded gym and when I'm there, I go straight to the free weights area to train. Its pure business for me so don't have the time in noticing the new faces there.
  • lilpoindexter
    lilpoindexter Posts: 1,122 Member
    This is another good reason to go at 3:30AM....Just wish it wasn't so damn cold.
  • michelec64
    michelec64 Posts: 120 Member
    I've been on vacation the last couple of weeks, so I've been going mid-morning when it's just retirees and housewives and it hasn't been too bad. I expect Saturday morning will be crowded though. Back to work on Monday which means I'm back to going when they open at 5 a.m., along with only a dozen or so other diehards.
  • shortchange1
    shortchange1 Posts: 146 Member
    After being an instructor in gyms for 14 years I've seen the ebb and flow of new people AND the reaction of the regulars to them. Maybe because I primarily taught cycling classes where there is a finite number of bikes available it was more pronounced when the New Year brought new people in and some of the regulars would complain because they didn't get a bike. I'd just remind them that everyone is entitled to take a class and next time they should probably make a point to get there earlier. I was as welcoming as possible to everyone just so that maybe they would find their experience positive enough to continue coming.

    I'd also mention to the regulars, well before the New year began how the needed to remember how they may have felt intimidated when attending a class or the gym for the first time.

    (New Years isn't the only time there's an uptick in membership. There's also the Spring uptick when people start getting serious about their sports or getting ready for swimsuit season and the another uptick in the Fall when people come back to indoor workouts when the weather gets crummy or because the kids are back in school).:smile:
  • Mcgrawhaha
    Mcgrawhaha Posts: 1,596 Member
    After being an instructor in gyms for 14 years I've seen the ebb and flow of new people AND the reaction of the regulars to them. Maybe because I primarily taught cycling classes where there is a finite number of bikes available it was more pronounced when the New Year brought new people in and some of the regulars would complain because they didn't get a bike. I'd just remind them that everyone is entitled to take a class and next time they should probably make a point to get there earlier. I was as welcoming as possible to everyone just so that maybe they would find their experience positive enough to continue coming.

    I'd also mention to the regulars, well before the New year began how the needed to remember how they may have felt intimidated when attending a class or the gym for the first time.

    (New Years isn't the only time there's an uptick in membership. There's also the Spring uptick when people start getting serious about their sports or getting ready for swimsuit season and the another uptick in the Fall when people come back to indoor workouts when the weather gets crummy or because the kids are back in school).:smile:

    perfect! love this!
  • TheConsciousFoody
    TheConsciousFoody Posts: 607 Member
    Seriously? Who cares? I'd rather sit in a pool of acid than ever meet some of you gym elitist a-holes.

    To those who complain about people trying to change their life and "crowding" the gym... do me a favor? Don't breed and if you have..dont do it anymore. See, the world is getting crowded and I don't like a-holes...so....
  • icimani
    icimani Posts: 1,454 Member
    To be honest, I would be ashamed of myself if I wrote comments like this.

    No wonder humanity is going down the drain.


    Wow - I asked for an observation and I've been called discouraging, judgmental, the sole reason a few of you decided not to join a gym, a snob, a jerk, a complainer, in a bad mood (need more carbs?!), the reason that people are uncomfortable and fail, hypocritical, non-supportive, degrading to other people, intimidating, and an elitist. And now I'm one of the reasons that humanity is going down the drain.

    Pretty amazing.
  • not bad , but I switch to morning workouts and its always few eople there at that time
  • JNick77
    JNick77 Posts: 3,783 Member
    So far so good to be honest. I go early enough to where it's not an issue and most stay away from the power racks anyway.
  • ang3h
    ang3h Posts: 185 Member
    I work out pretty late.. around 11pm, and I'm shocked at the influx of people.. especially since it's a small non-franchise gym. I can't imagine how awful it must be during the day. As it is, I can't wait until these newbs give up.. I work out late to get away from people!
  • upgetupgetup
    upgetupgetup Posts: 749 Member
    I only go to a community centre every now and then, late, just for stuff I can't do at home (swim, use the rower). But I remember being a new gym-goer and I remember being annoyed by the New Year's rush.

    I think really, staff can help people share the space better by doing a PROPER induction, including stuff on gym etiquette (god, the cologne today).

    AND on staying hygienic (saw someone powdering their foot, thought crap, my flimsy flip flops won't save me :/). AND, by setting a standard in the gym of following through on established rules, and making them easy to follow - e.g., having spray cleaner everywhere and making people use it (in a friendly way), lots of signage around the right amount of time on machines (and communicable diseases!).

    And, by having free general guidance for the first few weeks of the month. Have staff NOT working on commission walk by obviously new people and ask, 'how are you doing, need some information or help?'.

    Serious training's worth money, but lots of people are just confused about how to operate machines, and it slows and annoys everyone.

    A bit of general advice ('shoot for 20 minutes on the bike') wouldn't go wrong either and isn't expensive. AND, I think once some trust's been established, without pushy sales, it might even encourage people to commit to training.
  • TubbsMcGee
    TubbsMcGee Posts: 1,058 Member
    I barely saw any Resolutionists yesterday, which was great!
    I go to a ladies-only gym, it's teeny tiny and above a grocery store, so if anyone else joins there won't be any room to walk around the place.

    I was however upset to see that a few of the lazies must have renewed their memberships...the ladies that take naps on the machines, never wipe down their machines, leave all their personal belongings in one of the two change rooms, and the ones that scowl at me if they see I'm lifting 4x as much as they are
  • topyule
    topyule Posts: 18 Member
    I know what you mean. I expected more, but there were only a few new faces. I work out from 5-630 am so there may have been an increase in the evening. I will see how it is over the weekend.
  • yoovie
    yoovie Posts: 17,121 Member
    this morning there were 5 people in my gym and 3 more in the lockeroom.
  • Hellbent_Heidi
    Hellbent_Heidi Posts: 3,669 Member
    I was however upset to see that a few of the lazies must have renewed their memberships...the ladies that take naps on the machines, never wipe down their machines, leave all their personal belongings in one of the two change rooms, and the ones that scowl at me if they see I'm lifting 4x as much as they are
    LOL...there was a chick at my old gym we nicknamed "bookend" because she sat forever just holding up the machines....
  • bumblebums
    bumblebums Posts: 2,181 Member
    I only go to a community centre every now and then, late, just for stuff I can't do at home (swim, use the rower). But I remember being a new gym-goer and I remember being annoyed by the New Year's rush.

    I think really, staff can help people share the space better by doing a PROPER induction, including stuff on gym etiquette (god, the cologne today).

    AND on staying hygienic (saw someone powdering their foot, thought crap, my flimsy flip flops won't save me :/). AND, by setting a standard in the gym of following through on established rules, and making them easy to follow - e.g., having spray cleaner everywhere and making people use it (in a friendly way), lots of signage around the right amount of time on machines (and communicable diseases!).

    And, by having free general guidance for the first few weeks of the month. Have staff NOT working on commission walk by obviously new people and ask, 'how are you doing, need some information or help?'.

    Serious training's worth money, but lots of people are just confused about how to operate machines, and it slows and annoys everyone.

    A bit of general advice ('shoot for 20 minutes on the bike') wouldn't go wrong either and isn't expensive. AND, I think once some trust's been established, without pushy sales, it might even encourage people to commit to training.

    These are all excellent points. The only objection I can anticipate is that it is not in the gyms' interest to encourage repeat visits. They want to encourage memberships, and the culture of New Year's Resolutions and Bikini Seasons does that for them already.

    My own theory, admittedly in the cuckoo conspiracy realm, is that my gym plays really awful 80's hits to make it as painful as possible to be at the gym. I remember reading somewhere about studies that found this kind of music to have an effect of discouraging people from spending too much time or money in clothing stores, so the same might go for gyms.
  • JStarnes
    JStarnes Posts: 5,576 Member
    I have avoided the gym this week for that very reason. My anxiety just can't take all the packed-ness of a new years gym! I'll start back next week, but switch to mornings to try & avoid the resolutioners. :ohwell:
  • TR0berts
    TR0berts Posts: 7,739 Member
    My wife really wanted to go to the gym after work last night (Friday night). I tried talking her out of it, but I should have known better. Anyway, we ended up going together - the parking lot was packed. But, inside, it wasn't bad at all. I figured that the first Friday night of the new year at around 5:30-6:00PM would have been completely packed. Nope - got in, did a light cardio workout, and got out. It didn't seem any busier than the other couple of nights I've been - maybe even a little less busy.